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Foster homes for dogs needed

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Sonoma Valley Sun

If you adore dogs and love making a difference, here’s your chance to do so in a big way. Sonoma County Animal Care and Control seeks loving canine foster parents to provide stable, short-term homes for dogs awaiting adoption.

The County Shelter takes in more than 2,000 dogs a year. While dogs await adoption, shelter staff and volunteers strive to keep the dogs comfortable, exercised, and happy. But, a home environment is better than a shelter for every animal, and in many cases, it is in the dog’s best interest to await adoption outside of the shelter in the temporary care of a foster home.

“Many dogs do fine at the shelter, or are adopted quickly,” said Shelter Supervisor Ann Joly, who has 22 years experience working in animal sheltering and welfare. “But some dogs — particularly those who are sensitive or are with us for months — find the shelter environment too intense.”

These are the candidates for foster care, Joly said. “A canine foster parent can provide dogs with the training, structure, stability, and exposure they need outside the shelter environment. For some dogs, being in foster care is the key to being adopted. Foster homes truly make a difference in the lives of dogs.”

Being a foster can be a great option for people who have no pets of their own, said Volunteer Coordinator Greg Mortensen. “But, fostering works well for those with pets, too, and can provide the perfect opportunity to socialize shelter dogs. We work to ensure the foster dog is the right match for the pets and people in the household.”

While the shelter’s most urgent foster home need is for adult dogs, it frequently needs kitten, puppy, and cat foster homes.

Those interested in the program should contact Mortensen at 565.7116 or [email protected] to make an appointment to complete an application and participate in an interview.

Sonoma County Animal Care and Control is located at 1247 Century Court, near the airport, in Santa Rosa. The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon – 5:30 p.m.




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